ballarat associated schools head of the lake rowing regatta

1942 Ballarat Head of the Lake

This race was conducted on Lake Wendouree on Saturday 10th May 1942.

Only the Firsts, seconds and third crews raced this year and the racing was held all on one day. There was no race for the fourths as in the preceding year. Ballarat College, Grammar and St. Patrick’s were the competing schools. The Ballarat Courier reported: No event in the school sporting year rouses such interest and excitement as the annual contest for the Head of the Lake. This year the race was postponed for a week, and instead of taking place on the 3rd of May it was rowed on Saturday the 10th of May. Ballarat College has had many great days, and among them will be recorded the boatrace day of 1942 when once more the College crew was Head of the Lake. Not only did the first crew triumph, but the second and third crews also won their races.

Thank you to Kate Elliott for the research on this page.

Organising Committee and Officials

Organising Committee: Ballarat Public Schools' Association

Officials: Starter Mr Alex Hall, Umpire Mr C H (Harry) Bunce, Judges Mr Fritz Marxen and Mr Ted Edwards, Timekeeper Mr Marks, Clerk of scales Mr H Riley and despatch steward Mr Eric Laughton.

Head of the Lake

Distance: 1 mile
Time: Not known
Margin:10 lengths and 6 lengths

1st Ballarat College - Bow: J M Morrell, 2: D T Coburn, 3: N E Hewitt, Str: B A McDonald, Cox: G Hirth, Coach Mr N Goon

2nd Grammar School - Bow: A Hall, 2: A Cook, 3: J Meredith, Str: D Grant, Cox: A Bowd, Coach Mr Stan Wilton

3rd St Patrick’s College - Bow: H Hassall, 2: K Whiting,3: D Ewing, Str: A Vaughan, Cox: B O’Sullivan

The Ballarat Courier on Monday 12 May reported BALLARAT COLLEGE HAS TRIPLE WIN. Rowing brilliantly with easy swinging strokes and good length, Ballarat College crew won the Head of the Lake…….winning by 10 lengths. They took command from the start rowing with a long easy, clean stroke, perfect timing and swing which reflected great credit on their coach Mr. N. Goon. The rowing of all crews was well up to standard but Ballarat College showed superior form in all three races. In winning the main race College have won on two consecutive occasions and by repeating the success next year will retain the Dowling Cup.

The Australasian, Melbourne, Saturday May 16, 1942, pg 32 reported that the first crews race was over the mile course, and Ballarat College, on the north station, where it got the worst of the wind, took the lead from the start, and, increasing its advantage, steadily drew further ahead of Grammar, which led St. Patrick’s. The crew was ably coached by Mr. N. Goon, and won by 10 lengths from Ballarat Grammar, St. Patrick’s being a further 6 lengths further back. The winners rowed with a long, clean stroke, the timing and the swing were excellent, and the form generally well up to standard. The weather was not good, for there was a stiff northerly wind, which made the water choppy.

1942 Ballarat College crews - source 2012 Courier supplement for the centenary of the Head of the Lake
Back row College first crew in seat order, middle row second crew in seat order, and the third crew in front in seat order

Second Fours

Distance 0.5 mile

1st Ballarat College - Bow: C Reid, 2: Frank Ritchie, 3: G Thewlis, Str: John Irwin, Cox: F Whiteside

2nd Grammar School - Bow: J Allen, 2: J Lewis, 3: H Onley, Str: I Clingin, Cox: M Frost, Coach Mr W Nash

3rd St.Patrick's - Bow: K Murphy, 2: L Hunt, 3: P Raphael, Str: J McEvoy, Cox: P Farrell

The seconds race was an extremely hard-fought event. The three crews made an excellent start and for some time rowed together. St. Patrick’s began to draw ahead near the Point (View Point) closely followed by Grammar and then College. At the Point, which is the accepted mark for a finishing burst, all three crews increased their pace.

Third Fours

Distance 0.5 mile

1st Ballarat College - Bow: F T Davies, 2: B M Brumby, 3: M J Robinson, Str: W P Humphreys, Cox: D F Lampard, Coach Mr B McDonald

2nd Grammar School - Bow: T Treeky, 2: W Treloar, 3: J Mair, Str: M Bourke, Cox: K Head, Coach Mr H Read

3rd St. Patrick's -Bow: L Cleary, 2: J Moloney, 3: Masterson, Str: J Jongebloed, Cox: W Holmes

In the third’s race a foul occurred 150 yards from the start and the race had to be re started.

Sources:

Ballarat Courier 100 years Head of the Lake Supplement
Ballarat Courier on Monday 12 May
The Australasian, Melbourne, Saturday May 16, 1942, pg 32

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The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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